Education Blog

A Blog for Educators and Families

A Blog for Educators and Families exists to offer resources for teachers and caregivers interested in unique ways to make history come alive in the classroom or at home. Written by the educators at the Ohio History Connection, we will explore events throughout history, provide resources you can incorporate into your daily lesson plans, and share why we love learning about the past.

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June 4, 2025

The Future is in Their Hands: Constitutional Roleplay in the Classroom

Thirty middle schoolers are huddled in groups, passionately debating whether their new island nation should have a unicameral or bicameral legislature. One student jumps up—"But wait! If we only have one house, what happens when they all agree on something terrible?" Another counters, "That's why we need the judges to serve for life!" A third […]

May 14, 2025

Gamified Learning: Over-Hyped or Just What Your Classroom Needs?

Picture this: It's Monday morning. In Classroom 101, students mechanically complete worksheet problems about biology, occasionally glancing at the clock in boredom. In Classroom 102, those same math problems have been transformed into a quest to save an endangered species, complete with points, badges, and a compelling narrative. The content is identical, but the learning […]

April 10, 2025

Celebrating Service – Elevating Veteran Stories in Your Classroom

Special thanks to our guest contributor Mason Farr at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum for bringing the expertise of NVMM to this month's blog. In 1999, the late-senator and U.S. Navy Veteran, John McCain, spearheaded legislation to establish May as National Military Appreciation Month. Since then, the entire month of May has become a […]

January 31, 2025

Bringing Trailblazing Ohio Women in Healthcare into the Classroom

Special thanks to intern Jessie Tudor-Tangeman for writing this month's blog. Did you know that Ohio was once the home of the first female doctor in the United States? Or that Toledo, Ohio was the location for one of the first female African American owned pharmacies in the nation? Would it surprise you to know […]

January 30, 2025

ART in STEM: How NASA Used Art to Design the James Webb Telescope

Special thanks to our guest contributor Chris Moynihan at the Armstrong Air & Space Museum for writing this month's blog. At the Armstrong Air & Space Museum, the education staff embraces their roles as “informal” educators. Museums dedicated to the scientific history of America’s space program, such as the Armstrong Air & Space Museum, have […]

December 13, 2024

Remembering a Forgotten Legend: Hallie Q. Brown

Special thanks to our guest contributor Kevin Lydy at the National Afro-American Museum & Cultural Center (NAAMCC) for writing this blog. So I pay my tribute to you While you live to hear me say That I pride myself in knowing you, And in seeing you each day. While I see your smile and hear […]

November 21, 2024

Becoming a Witness: Who Will Tell Our History

Special thanks to our guest contributors at the Ohio Holocaust and Genocide Memorial and Education Commission (OHGMEC) for writing this month's blog on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. “I believe firmly and profoundly that whoever listens to a witness becomes a witness, so those who hear us, those who read us must continue to bear witness for […]

November 7, 2024

Foraging for Food in Ohio

Important Note: As with any foraging, please proceed with caution and only eat foraged foods you are confident are safe to eat. Be sure to consult guides and experts to ensure the safest foraging experience. Foraging for food links us to our earliest ancestors. Edible leaves, nuts, berries, and mushrooms are just some of the […]

October 1, 2024

Bringing Children’s Voices into the Social Studies Classroom

“Children should be seen but not heard,” goes the old adage. But what if we can help our students view their role in history differently? What if we taught students to view children not as mere background players in history, but as a key part of unlocking historical curiosity? Though children’s voices are often underrepresented […]

August 28, 2024

Teaching Hispanic Heritage Month – Part 3

Hispanic and Latinx history is an intricate and expansive tapestry that encompasses a diverse array of experiences, cultures, and contributions that have shaped not only the United States but the entire Western Hemisphere. Far more than a singular narrative, this history spans centuries, continents, and countless stories of resilience, creativity, and influence. It includes the […]